of the evidence if the witness were then present and testifying.

§ 14.24 Interrogatories to parties.

(a) Any party may serve upon any other party written interrogatories after the notice of hearing has been filed. If the party served is a corporation, partnership, association, or governmental agency, an agent shall furnish such information as is available to the party. (b) Each interrogatory shall be answered separately and fully in writing under oath, unless it is objected to, in which event the objection shall be stated in lieu of an answer. The answers are to be signed by the person making them, and the objections signed by the attorney or other representative making them. Answers and objections shall be made within 30 days after the service of the interrogatories. The party submitting the interrogatories may move for an order under section 14.26 with respect to any objection to or other failure to answer an interrogatory.

(c) Interrogatories shall relate to any matter not privileged which is relevant to the subject matter of the hearing. § 14.25

Production of documents and things and entry upon land for inspection and other purposes.

(a) After the notice of hearing has been filed, any party may serve on any other party a request to produce and/or permit the party, or someone acting on his behalf, to inspect and copy any designated documents, phonorecords, and other data compilations from which information can be obtained and which are in the possession, custody or control of the party upon whom the request is served. If necessary, translation of data compilations shall be done by the party furnishing the information.

(b) After the notice of hearing has been filed, any party may serve on any other party a request to permit entry upon designated property in the possession or control of the party upon whom the request is served for the purpose of inspection, measuring, surveying or photographing, testing, or sampling the property or any designated object.

(c) Each request shall set forth with reasonable particularity the items to be inspected and shall specify a reasonable time, place, and manner of making the inspection and performing the related acts.

(d) The party upon whom the request is served shall respond within 15 days after the service of the request. The response shall state, with respect to each item, that inspection and related activities will be permitted as requested, unless there are objections in which case the reasons for each objection shall be stated. The party submitting the request may move for an order under § 14.26 with respect to any objection to or other failure to respond.

§ 14.26 Sanctions.

(a) A party, upon reasonable notice to other parties and all persons affected thereby, may move for an order as follows:

(1) If a deponent fails to answer a question propounded or submitted under § 14.22(c), or a corporation or other entity fails to make a designation under § 14.22(b) (3), or a party fails to answer an interrogratory submitted under § 14.24, or if a party, under § 14.25, fails to respond that inspection will be permitted or fails to permit inspection, the discovering party may move for an order compelling an answer, a designation, or inspection.

(2) An evasive or incomplete answer is to be treated as a failure to answer.

(b) If a party or an agent designated to testify fails to obey an order to permit discovery, the hearing examiner may make such orders as are just, including:

(1) That the matters regarding which the order was made or any other designated facts shall be established in accordance with the claim of the party obtaining the order;

(2) Refusing to allow the disobedient party to support or oppose designated claims or defenses, or prohibiting him from introducing designated matters in evidence.

(c) If a party or an agent designated to testify fails after proper service (1) to appear for his deposition, (2) to serve answers of objections to interrogatories submitted under § 14.24, or (3) to serve a written response to a request for inspection submitted under § 14.25, the hearing examiner on motion may make such orders as are just, including those authorized under subparagraphs (1) and (2) of paragraph (b) of this section. § 14.27 Ex parte communications.

ceedings, directed to the hearing examiner or the Secretary, shall be deemed ex parte communications and are not to be considered part of any record or the basis for any official decision by the hearing examiner or Secretary, unless the communication is made by motion pursuant to these rules. Any such communication in writing received by the hearing examiner or Secretary shall be made public by placing it in the correspondence file of the docket which is available for public inspection. If the ex parte communication is received orally, a memorandum setting forth the substance of the conversation shall be made and filed in the correspondence section of the docket. In either case, notice of such communication will be given to the parties.

(b) The hearing examiner shall not consult any person, or party, on any fact in issue unless upon notice and opportunity for all parties to participate, or be responsible to or subject to the supervision or direction of an employee or agent engaged in the performance of investigation or prosecuting functions related to the case.

(c) No employee or agent of the Federal Government engaged in the investigation and prosecution of this case shall participate or advise in the rendering of the recommended or final decision, except as witness or counsel in the proceeding.

PREHEARING

(a) Written or oral communications involving any substantive or procedural issue in a matter subject to these pro

§ 14.28 Prehearing conferences.

(a) Within 15 days after the Answer has been filed the hearing examiner will establish a prehearing conference date for all parties including persons or organizations whose petition requesting party status has not been ruled upon, Written notice of the prehearing conference shall be sent by the hearing examiner.

(b) At the prehearing conference the following matters, among others shall be considered: (1) Simplification and delineation of the issues to be heard; (2) stipulations; (3) limitation of number of witnesses; and exchange of witness lists; (4) procedure applicable to the proceeding; (5) offers of settlement; and (6) scheduling of the dates for exchange of exhibits. Additional prehearing conferences may be scheduled on the motion of the hearing examiner or on the motion of any party to the hearing.

HEARING

§ 14.29

Appearances.

The parties may appear in person, by counsel, or other representatives. In the event that a party appears at the hearing and no party appears for the opposing side, the party who is present shall have an election to present his evidence in whole or such portion thereof sufficient to make a prima facie case before the hearing examiner. Failure to appear at a hearing shall not be deemed to be a waiver of the right to be served with a copy of the hearing examiner's proposed decision and to file exceptions to it.

§ 14.35 Exceptions.

Exceptions to rulings of the hearing examiner are unnecessary. It is sufficient that a party, at the time the ruling of the hearing examiner is sought, makes known the action which he desires the hearing examiner to take, or his objection to an action taken, and his ground therefor.

§ 14.36

Offer of proof.

An offer of proof made in connection with an objection taken to any ruling of the hearing examiner excluding proffered oral testimony shall consist of a statement of the substance of the evidence which counsel contends would be adduced by such testimony. If the excluded evidence consists of evidence in written form or consists of reference to documents, a copy of such evidence shall be marked for identification and shall accompany the record as the offer of proof.

§ 14.37

Official transcript.

An official reporter will be designated for all hearings. The official transcripts of testimony and argument taken, together with any exhibits, briefs, or memoranda of law filed therewith, shall be filed with the hearing clerk. Transcripts may be obtained by the parties and the public from the official reporter at rates not to exceed the applicable rates fixed by the contract with the reporter. Upon notice to all parties, the hearing examiner may authorize such corrections to the transcript as are necessary to accurately reflect the testimony.

POSTHEARING PROCEDURES

§ 14.38 Proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law.

Within 30 days after the close of the hearing each party may file, or the hearing examiner may request, proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law together with supporting briefs. Such proposals and briefs shall be served on

all parties and amici. Reply briefs may be submitted within 15 days after receipt of the initial proposals and briefs. Reply briefs should be filed and served on all parties and amici.

§ 14.39

Oral argument.

Within the time period for filing initial proposals and briefs, any party may move for oral argument. It is within the hearing examiner's discretion to grant the request. If the request is granted, the hearing examiner shall establish a time and place for oral argument following the filing of the briefs.

Record for decision.

§ 14.40

The hearing examiner will make his findings, conclusions, and proposed decision upon the basis of the record before him. The transcript of testimony, exhibits, and all papers, documents, and requests filed in the proceedings, except the correspondence section of the docket, shall constitute the record.

§ 14.41

Recommended determination.

The hearing examiner shall, in an expeditious manner, rule on proposed findings and conclusions submitted by the parties; and shall make recommended findings, conclusions, and decision. These rulings and recommendations shall be certified, together with the record for decision, to the Secretary, for his decision. The rulings, recommended findings, conclusions, and decision of the hearing examiner shall be served on all parties and amici curiae to the proceedings.

§ 14.42 Exceptions to recommended de

termination.

Within 30 days after receipt of the recommended decision, all parties to the proceeding may file with the hearing clerk a brief in support of or as an exception to, the recommended findings, conclusions, and decision of the hearing examiner. Service of such briefs or exceptions shall be made on all parties and amici in the proceeding. Such briefs may be responded to within 15 days of their receipt by the other parties. Responses should be filed with the hearing clerk and served on all parties and amici to the proceeding.

§ 14.43 Record.

After expiration of the time for filing briefs and exceptions, the Secretary shall make a final decision on the basis of the record before him. The record includes the record for decision, the rulings, the recommended findings, conclusions and decision of the hearing examiner, and the exceptions and briefs filed subsequent to the hearing examiner's decision.

§ 14.44

Final decision.

The Secretary may affirm, modify, or set aside in whole or in part, the recommended findings, conclusions, and decision of the hearing examiner. The decision of the Secretary shall not be final without the approval of the Director, Office of Federal Contract Compliance, Department of Labor.